The Addams Family: Musical Sales Plummet without Nathan Lane

by Trevor Kimball, September 5, 2010

Based on the Charles Addams cartoon panels (and slightly on the classic TV show), The Addams Family Broadway musical hasn’t received many favorable reviews.

Still, the show has been very popular with theatre goers and has consistently been one of Broadway’s top revenue makers. It typically nets more than $1.1 million a week and places in the top three sellers.

Many have suspected that the show’s financial success can be attributed to the headlining of stars like Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth. It seems we now have verification that that’s true.

Last week, Lane took time off from the show and the ticket sales reportedly dropped 32%, more than $350,000. While the $764,231 the show did take in is enough to keep The Addams Family — The Musical in the top ten, this doesn’t seem to bode well for the show’s future.

The accountants will surely be keeping watch when Neuwirth takes her vacation in late September/early October. If the show can survive, once Lane and Neuwirth leave for good, remains to be seen and could very likely hinge on the strength of replacement casting.

Still, theatergoers across the country will get a chance to see the show in the fall of 2011. A national tour is being planned.

What do you think? Who do you think could replace Lane and Neuwirth once they leave the show? Will you consider seeing The Addams Family — The Musical on tour?

I don’t understand why this show has had so many bad reviews. I’m British, and have been dying to see it ever since I knew it existed! Yes, ok, admittedly, it could be better in terms of script/certain musical numbers. But it is one I would pay to see in the West End. If there was any cast member I would pay to see, it would be Krysta (Wednesday), never mind Neuwirth and Lane. I’m an Addams Family fan in general, so maybe I’m slightly biased, but it seems to me that Lippa’s score absolutely compliments each character. As for… Read more »